How to find Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager Habitat (Where to look)

Scarlet Tanager Breeding Habitat:

• interior of mature deciduous and mixed forests
• seem to favor forests with Oak and Beech trees
• preferred conifer trees appear to be Pine and Hemlock

Scarlet Tanager Migratory Habitat:

• forests and open canopy woodlands - including wooded backyards, parks, orchards, and even weedy fields in close proximity to forest

Scarlet Tanager Behavior (What to look for)

• mainly forages high in canopy but will occasionally forage at mid and even low levels - including in shrubs and on the ground
• more likely to be seen at lower levels during migration
• diet includes caterpillars, spiders, insects (especially bees/wasps), and berries (favorites are Red Mulberry, Virginia Creeper, and Blackberry)  
• males sing at high levels (often in the tallest trees)
• while breeding occurs in the interior of forest, Scarlet Tanager frequently sing and forage in forest edge type areas
• will occasionally visit bird baths and bird feeders with fruit (migration only) - halved oranges seem to be their favorite fruit to take from feeders
• attracted to insect-laden, flowering trees in spring - including flowering dogwood
• male Scarlet Tanager molt from scarlet-red to green-olive in fall

Notes from Anonymous Birder(s)

“Not as hard to find as reputation would have you believe”

“Check tall trees first”

“listen for chick-burr call”

“in the shrubs and on the ground more often than you’d think”

Indicator Species

Red Eyed Vireo, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-Throated Vireo, Veery, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird

Good Luck!